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78 Swallows

At 8:00 PM one June evening a woman called asking if we still took care of baby birds. When I told her we did, she said she had a “bunch” of baby swallows and could we take them? I told her to bring them to me, expecting five or six. When she came to the door a few minutes later with a laundry basket and something inside a sheet, I was completely unprepared for what was inside. A huge pile of babies of all sizes left me speechless. Someone had deliberately knocked down cliff swallow nests that had hung under a bridge near her home. A young woman happened upon them and knowing the woman next to me knew “the bird lady”, went to her for help.

They were quickly divided up in bowl and berry basket nests of two-four birds each according to their size and placed in brooders for heat. Then came the seemingly monumental task of assessing their injuries. There were fractures, bruises and as with many birds in Colorado, especially it seems around Pueblo County, there were blow fly maggots to contend with. Thanks to Lynette Carson, another rehabber, who helped with that nasty chore!

Once everybody warmed up, they were HUNGRY!!! Feeding so many babies, some at 30 minute intervals, others hourly would have been daunting without the help of one wonderful volunteer; THANK YOU, Lori!!!

Over the next few weeks, we lost 20 of the swallows. When all was said and done, we released 58 beautiful cliff swallows. What an awesome sight!

Click here to see their pictures